Written by For our prompt of “Lion” today, I decided to sketch a little cub taking those first few timid steps. Though I’ve been sketching daily for a few years now, each time I sit down to a blank page in my sketchbook, I always feel a bit like this. A touch of uncertainty, at first, that then gets perfectly overshadowed by a strong sense of curiosity and excitement. I’m just really want to find out what happens next. Once I start making those first few marks on the paper, I get caught up in the act of creating an image appear and stop worrying about whether or not it’s going to be a great sketch. I hope it turns out lovely in some way, but I mostly just love the opportunity to create something once again. Getting to make some art, always feels like a little gift. First, it’s just a gift to myself. A chance to give myself the time and space to relax and enjoy something special. And next, I get to share whatever I made with all of you, and hopefully, if everything works out, give you the gift of a smile.
Today, Philippe and did nothing much of anything. We binge watched some shows on television after going to grab some groceries. Later we made an additional run to Costco, a bit disappointed that football season had ended so the crowds had all returned. As we were checking out, the cashier remarked on the spelling of Philippe’s name. “Two “P’s” and an “E”,” she said, “is that right?” Philippe responded that it was indeed correct and that he was from France. She smiled one of those giant and genuine smiles that makes the room a touch warmer. Then she said, “You need to come through my line next time as well!” After realizing she’d forgotten to put on her name tag, she quickly put it on and said, “sorry about that! You don’t even know my name! It’s Sheneka! You come through my line next time.” To this, Philippe just blushed a bit and said, “You won’t remember me.” Sheneka stared him in the face and said, “I bet I will. Next time, we’re gonna challenge each other!” I honestly have no idea what game was being played, but I loved watching all of the happiness taking place during that one simple interaction.
These are the moments that I adore, and why I enjoy our everyday routines. There’s always those beautiful little reminders that I’m never missing anything that I truly love. Perhaps, I am just easily amused, like a little cub discovering the world for the first time each day. Yet, I think that’s a rather perfect way to live a life of joy. But, there are so many little moments that I know I fail to see each day. The ones that are just too small to feel relevant, or when I’m too distracted to actually be present. My own shyness will often make me miss out on interactions with people. So, seeing even that littlest bit of connection between Philippe and Sheneka today was inspiring. It’s a reminder to be a bit bolder when I’m out in the world and take time to make more connections. I can’t help but think, that there’s always something extraordinary that comes from living life like a little lion.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Yellow Ochre, Hansa Yellow Medium,Terra Cotta, Opus (Vivid Pink), Cobalt Turquoise, Indigo, and Ultramarine (Green Shade). Staedtler Pigment Liners in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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Such a cute little cub Charlie!
Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕
What a wonderful little lion!! i agree…there is that initial uncertainty when i sit down to do the daily prompt too but once a brush is in hand an idea comes to mind the timidity usually goes away and the fun begins.🥰
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕Yay to letting that brush move you on! And I adore seeing all of the fun you come up with each and every day my friend!
What a fantastic moment in time. It’s sort of like the butterfly and hurricanes. One smile or kind word and the world’s a better place.
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 So true! It doesn’t take much to make the world a better place!
Awe such a cutie!!! So yes Charlie you do have a way of putting a smile on my face with your lovely art. I adore your stories as well. Sometimes they bring up memories of my own. Today your experience made me think of an experience i had with a fellow shopper. I was looking at some salmon with a yummy herb topping. He asked me whats good today. I said I was looking at the salmon. He agreed. a woman passes by and says what??? He tells her we are checking out the salmon. She says oh yes it looks great. I was laughing at this silly exchange that seemed to be drawing in more people to see what was the best fish of the day! lol I just love those encounters. 🙂
Thanks so much, Lisa! 😃💕I’m so happy I can make you smile! Yes! Love your story! That’s exactly the kind of moments that thrill me. When even salmon manages to make a wonderful connection!
Such a cute cub! To live life like a little lion… strong, curious, kind and confident, a lovely thought! The unexpected sweet moments of connection in our world definitely make it more if the place I want to be! TY for all that you inspire by your sharing 🙏🏼😊
Thanks so much, Mari! 😃💕Yay to those unexpected sweet moments! I’m so thrilled you enjoy my posts!
Great painting. I’m still only about six months into my time as an artist. Sometimes I struggle to find inspiration for something easy enough for me to draw, as in the peacock.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕Your six months is going great!! I love all of the creativity I see in your posts. Keep ’em coming, and don’t think too much. Your inner child know exactly what to do next! 😉
Thank you very much Charlie. That’s a real confidence boost.
Lovely sketch
Thanks so much, Hiren! 😃💕
Working as a public librarian was a wonderful thing. Even though I was the Director of the libraries I worked for, they were small enough that I spent time both in my office and with the public doing reference work. People are amazing. They surprised me all the time with things they needed to know or wanted to make and I was the lucky middleman who got to find the information they needed to make their ideas come to fruition. Even though I’ve been retired for over 10 years, I still remember those days very fondly.
I love that, Lisa! 😃💕It’s true, people are amazing. And it’s so much fun to interact and discover just how!
Love!
Thanks so much, Jodi! 😃💕
He has a little smirk! Cute little guy. If people working at stores only realized the impact they can have on people. We had the opposite experience at an antique store. Two younger people who could have cared less. It was our first visit there too. Oh well…..society.
Thanks so much, Lori! 😃💕 Glad ya liked the smirk! hehe Yeah, I can’t imagine not being thrilled by history. Where we came from tells us so much about where we’re going next.
Lovely cute little lion!
Thanks so much, Fatima! 😃💕
Your little lion is so cute and adorable… it reminds me though that I have sketches of a big lion that are waiting to be finished 🙂
But there’s so much that needs to be finished. I’m glad I took a shy step this morning to make an appointment, feeling like the little lion. Maybe a step to become a bigger lion… getting into a better situation. Then: thinking Doodlewash – Charlie’s – Blogs’ are making me philosophizing (eh, is that a word?) about my life 🙂
Thanks so much, Heidi! 😃💕 hehe… glad I have you philosophizing about your life! Fun! And yep, it’s a word… a cool one!
Little lions grow up to be big lions. Your wee cub is mesmerising. Your opening paragraph stirred me I actually have copied it to re read and push myself somehow …to pick up a brush..tomorrow.perhaps..(oh dear I really did try not add the perhaps)
Thanks so much, Tazzie! 😃💕 Aww I’m so thrilled this post inspired you! I think it’s time to pick up that brush! 😉
Boy did you make me laugh, Charlie – disappointed that football has ended because the crowds are now at Costco. Also, less food to taste, LOL. But little lion here is so sweet. A gift to us who get to meet him here. Baby Any Critter makes me smile, and this little guy is taking my heart.
hehe! Glad you liked that bit, Sharon! 😃💕 Oh I miss the lack of Costco crowds. And thrilled you enjoyed my little lion!
I love the cub!! Are you interested in children’s book illustrating?
Thanks so much, Molly! 😃💕 I have always wanted to illustrate a children’s book, but I do all this on the side, so never seem to have the time. 😊